ISU’s Leonard: States won’t issue marriage licenses right away

The Supreme Court Rules same sex marriage legal. (Flickr/Mad Hausfrau)
The Supreme Court Rules same sex marriage legal. (Flickr/Mad Hausfrau)

By Terry James

NORMAL – Same sex couples will now be treated the same as opposite sex couple when it comes to marriage.  Illinois State University Supreme Court Scholar Michelle Leonard says the Supreme Court made that ruling Friday.

“This is the best they could of hoped for, the best they could of gotten,” said Leonard.  “There was that fallback option where court could of said states only have to recognize other marriages.  They didn’t do that.  They went as far as they could to say that under the 14th amendment we have to treat same sex marriages as equal.”

She says under federal law and under the constitution marriage is now equal for everyone.  However, Leonard says states will need to change laws meaning marriage licenses won’t be issued right away.

LISTEN: WJBC’s Terry James speaks with Danielle O’Cooke, Susie Hutton and Dave Bentlin of the Prairie Pride Coalition about Friday’s Supreme Court ruling.

Terry James can be reached at [email protected].

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